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Rivaldo dedicates award to late father
Posted: Monday December 20, 1999 03:46 PM
PARIS (Reuters) -- Long snubbed by Brazilian fans and journalists, Rivaldo says he owes his European player of the year award to his late father -- the man he says really believed in him. "All the merit in my success goes to him," he told France Football in an interview to be released on Tuesday. "He encouraged me to forge ahead in this way, convinced that I would make it when others doubted me. "That is why I dedicate this Golden Ball to him," he added. The second Brazilian to be handed the trophy after Ronaldo two years ago, Rivaldo received 219 points from a jury of 51 journalists, beating Manchester United and England midfielder David Beckham by 65 points. "He was my great rival and a great player who would have deserved to win. He proved it by winning four titles with Manchester United," he said. "But the many goals I scored made the difference. Beckham has won all the major trophies this season and his passing is great, but he scores fewer goals than me." Coveted by most of Europe's wealthiest teams, Rivaldo, who turned down an offer to play for Manchester United in the summer, said he wished to stay with Barcelona until the end of his contract in 2003. Very flattered"I'm very flattered that so many prestigious teams have expressed an interest in me, but I feel settled in Barcelona and I mean to honor my contract which ends in 2003," he said. Negotiations are under way between Barcelona officials and Rivaldo's agent Jose Maria Minguella over his wages, but the Brazilian said he would make no comment until the end of the season. Despite some misunderstandings with Brazilian crowds and with former Brazilian manager Mario Zagallo, who refused to select him for a year after he was deemed responsible for the 4-3 loss to Nigeria in the 1996 Olympics semifinals, Rivaldo said the award brought with it no feeling of revenge. "It's just a great happiness," he said. "It is true that I have not always been popular and I have suffered from that but things have changed for the better. "Now I get good write-ups from the Brazilian press. Since we won the Copa America, journalists have changed their opinions," he added. Asked why he was misunderstood in his own country, he said: "I don't come from Rio or Sao Paulo but from Recife and it hampered me for a long time. It is something that matters back home," he said. The appointment of Wanderley Luxemburgo as Brazil's manager after the 1998 World Cup in France has further changed matters for Rivaldo. "He is the man who brought me up as a player. He's a great technician, one of the best in the world. "He knows me perfectly, he trusts me and that helps a lot," he added.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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